Food, family and memories are as intertwined in the South as if woven on the same thread. At any function we attend, from a party to a wedding to a funeral, we are as likely to talk as much about the food that was there, as we are about why we are gathered. ~Mary Foreman

I'm your cook, not your doctor. ~PAULA DEEN

I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best friends. ~Ninny Threadgoode

Friday, May 24, 2013

Not only is May National Barbecue Month and also National Hamburger Month, but the unofficial beginning of summer is right around the corner with Memorial Day cookouts and celebrations this weekend and that means the return of the burger!

Update: Congratulations to Diana A from Texas who wrote "Fearless recipes and uncompromising techniques... what a great combination." Diane, please shoot me an email before midnight CST on 6/1/13 with your complete mailing info so we can get your cookbook out in the mail to you. Congratulations!

Not that it's ever gone all that far really - I have read that the average American eats burgers three times a week - but there is just something about the aroma of those burgers flipped on a summer grill, in the midst of kids splashing in a pool, wedges of ice cold watermelon, and tall glasses of homemade lemonade and that just makes 'em taste that much better. Wicked Good Burgers will give you plenty of reasons to want to venture outside of the burger box this summer.

Making a decent burger is pretty easy. But the devil is in the details when making a "wicked good" burger, the kind of burger that hits the sweet spot of juiciness, has a perfectly seared crust, and mouthwatering flavor.

Unless you follow the competition BBQ circuits, you may not be familiar with the iQue BBQ team from Boston since they aren't exactly Southerners. But, due to their upset as the first group of Northerners in history to win the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational in Lynchburg, Tennessee in 2009, and the fact that they've racked up 30 Kansas City Barbecue Society championships, maybe that ought to change.

That win led to the release of the first book in the Wicked Good series, Wicked Good Barbecue. The book went on to charm even the most fickle of BBQ aficionados and found mentions everywhere from The Boston Globe to The Wall Street Journal before finally being named “BBQ Book of the Year” by the National Barbecue News. I'd say that earned them a little bit of Southern respect y'all!

In this second in the series new release, Wicked Good Burgers, Andy Husbands and Chris Hart, along with food writer Andrea Pyenson, bring new techniques, inspirations, and ingredients to take the average burger to the next level.

What I really loved about this burger book is that it literally takes you all the way through getting the perfect burger, from A to Z, and everything in between.

Chapter 1, "The Basics of Burgers" covers how to grind your own meat, special meat blends to use, shaping burgers, the equipment to use and perfected cooking methods - from the griddle to wood-fired and charcoal.

Chapter 2 "Burgers 101," walks you through the entire process, from the meat to the condiments to the bun - leading you to the "perfect burger.' You'll find burger seasonings and special sauces, burger toppings like Gram's Bread and Butter Pickles, Pig Candy, Pickled Green Tops, Peppered Onion Rings and ketchups, mustards and other condiments such as Best.Mayo.Ever., and even how to make Black Pepper Cured Bacon! Recipes for regular and bakery style burger buns are included, and there's even info on how to do a Soux Vide Burger, if you're so inclined.

Chapter 3 "New American Classics" is where Andy and Chris bring a sampling of some of the native cuisines they picked up from all around the country as they traveled to compete on the barbecue circuits. Here you'll find the Brisket Burger, Brat Burger, New Mexican Tortilla Wrapped Chile Burger, Beach House Burger, Pastrami Burger, Diner-Style Steamed Cheeseburgers and the Hill Country Brisket Burger pictured below, among others.

Chapter 6 "You Want Fries with That" gives us not only a great recipe for standard double cooked French fries, but also Creole fries, Duck fat fries, Sweet Potato Pub Fries, Poutine, onion rings, BBQ Potato Chips and even includes a recipe for Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips, and more.

Chapter 7, "It's a Frappe" wraps things up with the sweet stuff, in the form of Vanilla Frappe, as pictured below and a recipe for Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, Salted Caramel Frappe made with a Brown Sugar Simple Syrup, Darkest Chocolate Frappe with Devilish Chocolate Sauce, Chocolate Almond Banana Smoothie, and a recipe for homemade Coconut Ice Cream intended for use in their Ginger Beer Float, among others.

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! The publisher has agreed to provide ONE additional copy of Wicked Good Burger for me to give to ONE lucky Deep South Dish reader - completely free!

To enter, leave a comment on this post (Please comment only once!) and let me know what you think about the book. If you post anonymous, please leave a first name and last initial to identify yourself. This giveaway closes on Monday, May 27th, 2013 at midnight CST. One winner will be selected at random from the comments and will be announced as soon as possible on the site at this post. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim the cookbook. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only please.

Thanks for reading and good luck! Now if you'll excuse me, I suddenly seem to have a serious craving for a burger!

Posted by Mary on May 24, 2013

Disclosure: I received one complimentary copy of Wicked Good Burgers to review and another to giveaway.

Material Disclosure: Unless otherwise noted, you should assume that post links to the providers of goods and services mentioned, establish an affiliate relationship and/or other material connection and that I may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. You are never under any obligation to purchase anything when using my recipes and you should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.

119 comments:

From the pages you have shown, and the recipes listed? Sounds like a FABULOUS cookbook to add to my collection. I am recently starting to cook on the BBQ , my hubby didn't get the BBQ gene.. :( and I am intimidated as well as excited!... I have used many of your recipes, btw and I am a big fan!! Lizykat

At first glance, I was led to think it was just a burger recipe book - but it looks like so much more!! Love that it has recipes for Frappes, Fries, Seasonings and Sauces, in addition to lots of neat burger recipes. I'd love to try the Korean Bulgogi Burger!! Thanks for this giveaway.

At this point it's a huge tease of awesome! Im actually getting a new grill this weekend and this book would help make some great burgers for my family. Can't wait to see if my family will be part of the awesome!Thank you Lindie K

I am so happy to have found your site- you share such fantastic stuff! After looking at what you posted, above, regarding this cookbook giveaway, there are so many delicious-looking recipes in the book! It would be an honor to win such a well rounded cookbook as this! Janet V.

I am a cookbook addict and would LOVE to have this cookbook. It has some great looking recipes, and we experiment with a new recipe at least 1-2 times a week just because. This looks like it has a bunch of new things to try so I'm all in!

"Burgers and Fries and Cherry Pies" ... Really, what could possibly be more satisfying than an afternoon of burger grillin' and beer glass fillin' and good friends visitin'?And there is absolutely nothing at all wrong with adding a little bbq grillin' competition and experimenting!So, bring on the cookbook and thank you very much for the previews of what looks to be a fantastic edge in the burger competition arena.

As a very newlywed Southern bride, I've been making a lot of my speciality (coleslaw!) for my husband...but I could really use some advice on burgers to serve alongside it! We love trying new foods, and I would be so excited to make some of the Burgers Without Borders and Duck fries -- a perfect one-month anniversary meal!- Meg

This looks like an amazing book! We're burger fiends here ... endless possibilities for them so we don't get bored with them, and they're so easy. I'll be checking this one out at the bookstore this weekend :)

Love to learn new techniques with all cooking. Andy and Chris can bring a lot to the table and I want to hear it!! Love burgers just about more than anything and would love to add this collection to my collection!

The best parts of a burger are the first bite and the last bite. First to experience that fresh flavor of the bun and all that in between and the last bite to savor all the goodness with the satisfaction that was the best burger I ever ate. This book is a treasure. I'd love to have a copy.

WHO DOESN'T LIKE A GOOD BURGER? NO ONE THAT i KNOW OF AND SO HAVING A COOKBOOK THAT IS DEDICATED TO BURGERS IS LIKE BEING AT A BUFFET WHERE ONLY BURGERS ANYWAY YOU WANT THEM. yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy Southernkisst@yahoo.com

Goodness gracious me but I am drooling at the pictures of the burgers,well everything that is shown.If I could I would eat burgers and fries everyday with a nice cold salted caramel frappe to wash it down(mmmm, burgers, uuuggzzhhh).

I have recently started making homemade hamburger and hotdog buns. I would love to have this book to find new burgers to use them with. I am also very excited about all the side dishes and desserts this shows above.

Good golly I do indeed love a good burger ! Reading and looking at all of these photos for this amazing book has made me so hungry. I now know that I just simply couldn't pass up entering this contest . My mouth is watering ... Yum-O!Rhonda M

I am always looking for burger recipes! We LOVE them and I LOVE collecting cookbooks, so this would be a win win for me. The recipes you've shown here are simply amazing. If I don't win this cookbook, I will most definitely have to go in search of to buy! I just became a follower of your blog, come on over and visit me sometime soon at summdaysummway.blogspot.com!Blessings, Paula

Oh my goodness! This book looks totally amazing and would definitely come in handy since summer is right around the corner...we have lots of get-togethers with family and friends in the summertime.. I would love to win it...if I don't, I'm going to have to purchase one! Burgers are my favorite food and I love trying new creations.

The title seals the deal -- Who wouldn't crave a 'wicked good burger'??!? I'd love to have this book and would read it cover to cover. I need the Hamburger 101 tutorial as well as all the additional ideas covered in the later sections of the book.

This book sounds so amazing. I am a single parent who loves to cook for my family, I am always being teased about my different recipes (nothing is ordinary). But YET THEY ALWAYS COMPLIMENT THE TASTE! I would love to present these recipes to my children. So they can brag about having the best hamburgers EVER!

The "gourmet" burger is hitting the mainstream... bunch of hamburger shops opening up with everything from elk, bison, and the like as patties, with free-range eggs, parmesan croutons, and fancy sauces!

Would love to experiment with these burger on my own... here's hoping I win!MattyC

This looks like an amazing cookbook.....oddly enough I never really seem to experiment with hamburgers while cooking and this looks like something that would open up a whole new world of burgers for me! I love the idea of making gourmet burgers at home. Thanks for sharing it with us!

I adore hamburgers made wickedly and would love to win this book, oh, my mouth waters reading your blog and anticipating some kind of sunshine so I can make some wicked burgers! Love your blog, recipes and your musings on being a southern sweet gal..from Mary S. at momanddad00@clear.net

I don't think there anything more wonderful than a perfectly cooked burger on a steamed bun with all the trimmings except bacon. I love bacon but not on a burger. And of course you have to have fries!!!!! And an ice cold beer. I think I know what I'm cooking for dinner tonite. Wish I had the book to make a great one.Thanks so much for the giveaway. I love your blog and visit several times a week. Miss you when you don't post. Thanks, Ann H from Michigan

The pictures alone say it all....the onion rings on chapter 6 is what I am having for dinner tonight........along with a great burger...can't hardly wait....and winning this cookbook would mean more fantastic cooking that I could and would do for my family....and how could that be wrong using your fantastic recipes and the great recipes in this awesome cookbook...so here's wishing me luck on winning....by the way have I told you how much I love your blog...have a great day !!!!

Looks good may have to venture over to Amazon and get me one if I don't win of course, made burgers last night and they did not turn out good at all. Husband had me put some of a marinade (powdered) in them and made them more like a meatloaf vs burger. Did not care for it. Will try these. Thanks Mary for all you do. Bev pasquariello

I love to grill...do it year round. I also love your blog. I'm originally from Louisiana so most of your recipes remind me of home. I'm always looking for new and exciting burger recipes to try & would love to win this cookbook! Thanks!

You are my go-to site to find recipes that never fail to please my family. Burgers I just cannot seem to get a good burger off the grill...it's either just a ground beef patty or I've made it too much like a meat-loaf mix...So I need a good how-to book...loved your review. Onalee S.

We love burgers-and all the fixins that go with them. We had our big BBQ with family yesterday, and last night I was just saying I need to track down some new recipes for summer. Love your site, and follow you on facebook. Great pictures, and lots of yummy ideas from the looks of the book.

oh boy Mary I'm not a burger person very much but this book may help change my mind, lol. This looks amazing just the pictures and your review. Nothing better than homemade anything. This would be a well used book in my collection♥

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